Integrated floor structure



y 31, 1956 H. NAGIN 3,253,288

INTEGRATED FLOOR STRUCTURE I Filed June 18, 1962 W mm mm l 6 e 5 Fig.1.

INVENTOR. HAROLD NAGI N.

BY M, M M

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Office 3,253,288 Patented May 31, 1966 3,253,288INTEGRATED FLOOR STRUCTURE Harold 'Nagin, Pittsburgh, Pa, assiguor toReliance Steel Products Company, McKeesport, Pin, a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,082 8 Claims. (CI. 14-73)This invention relates to floor structures integrated from individualstructural sections for use in steel structures, and while its use isnot confined to bridge floors, it is especially adapted to such use. Itis particularly adapted for use in an orthotropic bridge floor, wherethe floor, instead of being dead weight, is an active structuralcomponent of the bridge structure, functioning for example, both tocarry traffic and as the bottom chord of a bridge truss.

Orthotropic bridge floors. have heretofore comprised a heavy flat metalplate or panel to the under surface of which are welded a plurality ofspaced parallel metal strips or sections set edgewise to the planeof theplate. The structure is cumbersome, heavy and presents difliculthandling problems in that the transportation of the large metal platesfrom the rolling mill to the fabricating shop presents a problem,adequate large storage areas in the plant are required for the platesand adequate clearance, not only on the shop floor but from theunloading or storage area to the actual working floor must be providedin the fabricating plant. A typical panel may be thirty feet or longer,and generally not less than six feet wide. Jigs must be provided to holdthe metal strip vertical until it is welded. Labor due to handlingproblems of this nature adds significantly to the cost of the finishedproduct.

According, to the present invention a floor panel is constructed bywelding together the abutting edges of parallel flanged structuralsections, or by the use of bars interposed between the sections andwelded thereto, in either case forming an integrated panel with acontinuous fiat deck and parallel structural sections. The deck isdesigned to carry a surface covering or pavement.

An important object of the invention is to provide a floor panelconstructed of metal sections providing a continuous deck and dependingparallel beams which is especially useful for, but not limited to use inthe construction of bridges using an orthotropic floor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a panel for such purposewhich can be constructed with less labor and less welding, and whichdoes not require transporting and bringing into the plant largediflficult-to-handle metal plates.

These and other objects and advantages are secured by my invention whichmay be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawingswhich show several embodiments of my invention, each of which hascertain advantages.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of an integratedpanel embodying one form of the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are similar views of differentmodifications thereof.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses a portion of typical panelformed of parallel angle bars 5, each with a vertical leg 6 and ahornzontal leg or flange 7, all disposed in the same position with theouter edge of the horizontal flange of each abutting and welded at 8 tothe outside corner of the neXtangle, providing a continuous flat deck 9with the vertical legs of the angles forming spaced parallel beams. Theweld at 8 is a continuous weld along the entire length of the panel.face of the deck there is a layer 10 of paving material. It maydesirably be an epoxy resin abrasive grit mixture Over the surasdisclosed in Patent No. 2,948,201, granted August 9, g

1960, which is applied either in the fabricating plant or in the field,or it may be any of the more usual paving materials such as concrete,asphalt, bricks, etc., in which case it is applied in the'field. Sincethe panel is integrated from a plurality of structural sections formingin effect a continuous deck plate and depending beams, it may be used asan orthotropic bridge floor wherein it functions not only as atraffic-bearing surface, but is also an active part of the bridgestructure itself.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is best suited for lighter structuresbecause the welding at the corners of the angles may impair the strengthof the sections to resist flattening under very heavy loads. Thearrangement shown in FIG. 2 is comprised of parallel T sections 15 withtop flanges 16 projecting laterally from each side of the vertical leg17. The flanges of the sections 15 are placed in abutting relation andjoined along the line of contact by a continuous weld 18. In this casethe weld is remote from. the juncture of the vertical web and the topflanges. The structure provides as in FIG. 1 a continuous flat deck 19on which there is a surfacing layer or paving 20. In making thelongitudinal welds it is often desirable-to use backing strip beneaththe weld to retain molten metal. Such backing strips, which have littlestructural significance, are shown at 21.

FIG. 3 shows a structure similar to FIG. 2, but wherein the T sections25 are specially rolled sections with wide top flanges 26, a verticalleg 27 with the bottom edge of the leg having a narrow bottom flange 28.The abutting top flanges are continuously welded at 29 and there is awearing surface or covering 30 as previously described over the flat topdeck 31. By the inclusion of the bottom flange 28 a much strongerstructure is provided than that shown in FIG. 2.

In each of the preceding modifications, all of the sections are flangedwith the sections themselves in contact with each other. However in manycases the required strength and reduced weight can be secured by usingmain sections which are spaced from each other and joined by a lighteror different intervening section. Embodiments of this are shown in theremaining figures.

In FIG. 4.the structural panel is comprised of parallel main members inthe form of channels 35 having the flanges 36 faced down and the flatwebs 37 horizontal. Instead of being in abutting relation, they arejoined by intervening sections 38, which in this case are flat barsections. Each bar section is welded along its edges to the top cornersof the channels which it abuts with the top of the bar flush with thetop of the webs of the channels which it joins, forming a fiat top deckor panel 39. It is provided with a surfacing 4t) as previouslydescribed.

In FIG. 5 the panel is formed of channel sections 45 set edgewise, sothat the Web 46 is vertical and one flange 47 is at the top and theother flange 48 at the bottom. All of the channels are preferably facedin the same direction, as this avoids having two of them back-to-back,but in some cases opposite facing may be desired. Between the channelsare sections 49 which are here also in the form of flat bars weldedalong their two edges to confronting channel surfaces, which in thisparticular case involves welding to one top flange 47 and one outsidecorner at 50 to form a flat deck or panel surface 51. Here, as in allforms, the welds are continuous throughout the lengths of the sections.The surfacing 52 is the same as described specifically in connectionwith FIG. 1. Backing strips for welding are shown at 53.

FIG. 6 uses channels much as in FIG. 4, but in this instance thechannels 55 are especially rolled sections having depending verticalflanges 56, the outer edges of which turn away from each other. Inaddition to having a web 57, the sections has a laterally-extendingflange 58'along the sections in FIG. 2 with the contacting flanges 53being joined, or, as here shown there may be sections 59, here shownalso as flat bars, between each two channels with the edges of the barswelded to the confronting flanges 58 of the two channel sections betweenwhich they are interposed, forming a flat deck 60 to carry a surfacing61, such as previously described. This structure has the advantage ofFIG. 2 in that the weld is spaced from the webs or vertical flanges ofthe main sections.

FIG. 7 is generally similar to FIG. 4 except that the main sections 65are square tubular sections instead of channels. The tubular sections 65are spaced from each other and are joined by intervening sections 66,which here also are flat bars welded along their edges to theconfronting top corners of the two tubes which they connect. In this waya flat deck or panel 67 is formed to which may be applied the surfacing68 as hereinbefore described. The continuous welds are designated 69.

In FIG. 8 the main sections 75 are similar to those shown in FIG. 3, butinstead of having the flanges directly abutting as in FIG. 3, theT-sections are spaced and an intervening secondary section 76 is weldedalong its edges to the confronting flanges of each two sections 75, thewelds being indicated at 77. The sections 76 may be bar sections, as inFIGS. 4 to 7 inclusive, or they may be some shallow ribbed section, suchas a shallow T or channel with downwardly-extending legs or flanges.This provides main beams or bars which are relatively deep and widelyspaced with intervening secondary beams or bars of smaller section.Since the deflection is a function of the cube of the depth of thesection alternate six-inch and two-inch webs under the deck will resistdeflection under load more effectively than a structure having all beamor flange elements of four-inch depth with no increase, however, inoverall weight. The surfacing is indicated at 78 and is of the characterfirst described.

This same arrangement shown and described in FIG. 8 is applicable toFIGS. 4 to 7 as well, and in any of the forms shown there may be thesame arrangement of deeper main sections and shallower interveningsections with downwardly-turned flanges. In any case, the deckforrningportion of the structural sections is a generally flat rectangle withparallel edges. This is the case whether they be formed with dependingwebs or flanges or merely intervening bars, and they must be thickenough for continuous welding of the abutting edges, and thick enough sothat their structural qualities will carry the stresses to which theyare subjected in an orthotropic floor. In other words thin gauge metalstrips which are not load-carrying sections would not comply with therequirements of this character. The back-up strips are shown only inFIGS. 2 and 5, but they need not be used in these constructions, or theymay be used with the other forms here shown, their use or omission beinglargely up to the individual fabricator. While in each case the deck isshown and described as flat, this means that it is generally planar, andis not intended to exclude the presence of any ribs, projections orconcavities provided to interlock with the sur facing or pavingmaterial.

Since the panel is intended to be used as an integrated structuralelement, the welds preferably extend continuously throughout the lengthsof the elements. It will be apparent that a great deal of labor in thefabricating shop is eliminated in bringing together lengths of metalsections over the use of large metal plates, and the amount of weldingis reduced over the conventional panel since the beams which are weldedto the plate should be welded along both edges where the beam contactsthe plate and the instant invention requires only a single weld betweentwo sections.

In each case there is a spacing between the downwardlyturnedbeam-forming portions of the panel. This provides access between themwhen the panel is set over structural framing for welding the panel tothe bridge or other structure in which it is used. This may be done fromunderneath, or by burning a hole through the top of the panel andwelding down through the top.

While I have shown and specifically described several different specificembodiments of my invention, this is by way of illustration and is notinclusive of all shapes and combinations of shapes to which theinvention is applicable, and insofar as any feature in any form shown isapplicable to any other form, this is contemplated by thisspecification. Generally speaking, each panel will comprise suflicientstructural sections to meet good engineering and field practice, panelsof the general order of six feet in width and up to thirty or more feetin length being contemplated, depending of course on the specificationsfor the bridge or other structure where the panel is to be used.However, the distance between the main sections should be of the generalproportions here shown where the span between the vertical webs of themain sections is not as much as three times the depth of the sections.The invention therefore provides an integrated floor panel andstructural component in which there are a plurality of parallelstructural sections having flange portions and integral depending legsor webs, the flange portions being in a common plane with a weldedconnection joining the flange portion of each section either directly orthrough an intervening bar or bar-like section with the top portion ofthe section to each side so that the panel has a continuous rigid deckand integral spaced webs on its under surfaces. It provides a panel inwhich every section, or at least every alternate section, has at leastone depending web, which may be the leg of an angle, the leg of aT-section, a flange or web of a channel or the leg formed as squaretube.

I claim:

1. A combined floor panel and structural component for metal structurescomprising a series of elongated parallel structural sections, eachhaving an integral deckforming top portion of flat rectangular sectionwith parallel edges, said edges abutting in a common plane with theedges of the deck-forming top portions of the adjacent sections toprovide a continuous deck surface, said abutting edges beingcontinuously welded to integrate said sections into a unit, everyalternate section at least having at least one depending integral web,all of the depending webs in the assembly being spaced from each other,the spaces between the depending Webs being continuously open alongtheir lengths to afford access to the under side of the abutting edgesof the several deck-forming portions for welding.

2. A combined floor panel and structural component for metal structurescomprising a series of elongated parallel structural sections, eachhaving an intergral deckforming top portion of flat rectangular sectionwith parallel edges, said edges abutting in a common plane with theedges of the deck-forming top portions of the adjacent sectionsproviding a continuous deck surface, said abutting edges beingcontinuously welded to integrate said sections into a unit, everyalternate section at least having one integral downwardly-extendingvertical web and at least one deck-forming top portion perpendicular tothe web, all of the depending webs in the assembly being continuouslyopen along their lengths to afford access to the under side of theabutting edges of the several deck-forming portions for welding.

3. A combined floor panel and structural component for metal structurescomprising a series of elongated parallel structural sections, eachhaving an integral deckforming top portion of flat rectangular sectionwith parallel edges, said edges abutting in a common plane with theedges of the deck-forming top portions of theadjacent sections providinga continuous deck surface, said abutting edges being continuously weldedto integrate said sections into a unit, every alternate section at leastbeing a T section with the web depending and completely separate fromand spaced from the adjacent sections except through the top portions.

4. A combined floor panel and structural component for metal structurescomprising a series of elongated parallel structural sections, eachhaving an integral deckforming top portion of flat rectangular sectionwith parallel edges, said edges abutting in a common plane with theedges of the deck-forming top portions of the adjacent sectionsproviding a continuous deck surface, said abutting edges beingcontinuously Welded to integrate said sections into a unit, everyalternate section at least being an angle section with a depending leg,each depending leg of each section being separate and spaced from theadjacent sections except through the top portions.

5. A combined floor panel and structural component for metal structurescomprising a series of elongated parallel structural sections, eachhaving an integral deckforming top portion of flat rectangular sectionwith parallel edges, said edges abutting in a common plane with theedges of the deck-forming top portions of the adjacent sectionsproviding a continuous deck surface, said abutting edges beingcontinuously Welded to integrate said sections into a unit, everyalternate section being a channel section, each channel section beingspaced from the next by an intervening flat bar section.

6. A combined floor panel and structural component for metal structurescomprising a series of elongated parallel structural sections, eachhaving an integral deckforming top portion of flat rectangular sectionwith parallel edges, said edges abutting in a common plane with theedges of the deck-forming top portions of the adjacent sectionsproviding a continuous deck surface, said abutting edges beingcontinuously welded to integrate said sections into a unit, everyalternate section being a channel section with two depending Webs withthe intervening sections being flat bar sections.

7. A combined floor panel and structural component for metal structurescomprising a series of elongated parallel structural sections, eachhaving an integral deckforming top portion abutting along its edges in acommon plane with the top portions of adjacent sections providing acontinuous deck surface, said abutting edges being continuously weldedto integrate said sections into a unit, every section being a sectionwith at least one integral web extending vertically downward from thedeck-forming top section with the webs of each section being spaced fromthe webs of adjacent sections and with the sections being in contactonly Where the edges of the top portions are Welded.

8. A combined floor panel and structural component for metal structurescomprising a series of elongated parallel structural sections, eachhaving an integral deckforming top portion of flat rectangular sectionwith parallel edges, said edges abutting in a common plane with theedges of the deck-forming top portions of the adjacent sectionsproviding a continuous deck surface, said abutting edges beingcontinuously welded to integrate said sections into a unit, everyalternate section at least having one vertical web and at least onedeck-forming top portion perpendicular to the web, every interveningsection being a bar section of a thickness equal to the thickness of thetop-forming top portions of the alternate sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,667 9/1937Dresser 1473 2,878,904 3/1959 Fanner 189-34 3,066,771 12/1962 Wolchukl473 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. JACOB L. NACKENOFF,Examiner.

N. C. BYERS, Assistant Examiner.

1. COMBINED FLOOR PANEL AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENT FOR METAL STRUCTURESCOMPRISING A SERIES OF ELONGATED PARALLEL STRUCTURAL SECTIONS, EACHHAVING AN INTEGRAL DECKFORMING TOP PORTION OF FLAT RECTANGULAR SECTIONWITH PARALLEL EDGES, SAID EDGES ABUTTING IN A COMMON PLANE WITH THEEDGES OF THE DECK-FORMING TOP PORTIONS OF THE ADJACENT SECTIONS TOPROVIDE A CONTINUOUS DECK SURFACE, SAID ABUTTING EDGES BEINGCONTINUOUSLY WELDED TO INTEGRATE SAID SECTIONS INTO A UNIT, EVERYALTERNATE SECTION AT LEAST HAVING AT LEAST ONE DEPENDING INTEGRAL WEB,ALL OF THE DEPENDING WEBS IN THE ASSEMBLY BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER,THE SPACES BETWEEN THE DEPENDING WEBS BEING CONTINUOUSLY OPEN ALONGTHEIR LENGTHS TO AFFORD ACCESS TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE ABUTTING EDGESOF THE SEVERAL DECK-FORMING PORTIONS FOR WELDING.